Sawhorse

ABSTRACT

A sawhorse comprising an elongated horizontal wood member being dovetailed along each of its two lower edges and slidably mounted within the two cavities formed by two pairs of convergingly related legs.

O United States Patent [191 [111 3, Greenplate 1Marc1i 20, 1973 [5 1 SAWHORSE 841,931 1/1907 Chesebro ..1s2 1s1 [75] Inventor: Alvin E. Greenplate, Wilmington 2,812,219 11/1957 Lange ..182/18S Del. 2,664,319 12/1953 Doucette ..182/l81 I 1,147,668 7/1915 Anderson..... ..182/185 Assigneei Industries, Wilmington, 3,024,865 3/1962 Campbell ..182/226 Del. [22] Filed: July 22, 1971 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado pp No: 165,111 AttorneyHerbert W. Larson [57} ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..l82/18l [51] Int. Cl ..E04g 1/32 A sawhorse compnsmg an elongated honzomal Wood 58 Field of Search ..1s2/1s1,.1s5, 186,224,226; member being dovetailed along each of its two lower 256/64 edges and slidably mounted within the two cavities formed by two pairs of convergingly related legs.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 3,103,988 9/1963 Knuth ..182/226 F I r 1 F PATENTEnmzoms 3,721,315

INVENTOR ALVIN E. GREENPLATE ATTORNEY .1 I SAWIIORSE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sawhorses. More particularly, it refers to an improved sawhorse readily assembled and capable of being easily disassembled for storage, the parts being an elongated horizontal wood member and two pair of convergingly related legs joined together by a trapezoid, the horizontal wood member being dovetailed along each of its two lower edges to conveniently slide overand be retained within the cavity formed by the upper portion of each pair of legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sawhorses, trestles or horses as they are frequently called, have been in use for a great number of years. They are commonly employed to support planks, to form a table and for a myriad of other construction and household uses.

More recently, the desire to save storage space has emphasized the use of sawhorses capable of being readily disassembled or knocked down. Most of these knock down type sawhorses in use are made from a metal bracket assembly such as in US. Pat. No. 3,480,11 1. This type sawhose suffers from added weight. Moreover, it sometimes damages saws. If a saw blade hits the metal bracket assembly the blade will be dulled or possibly chipped. Recognizing the advantages of a knock down" type sawhorse but desirous of one made all of wood I have devised the subject invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a side view elevation of the sawhorse showing the elongated horizontal wood member, 1, the convergingly related legs, 2, and the trapezoid, 3, on each side of the legs, joining the two legs and also supporting the horizontal member.

FIG. 2 is an end view elevation of the same saw-horse shown in FIG. 1. The elongated horizontal wood member, 1, with the dovetail formed by a cut on each of its lower edges, the two legs, 2, and the trapezoid, 3.

FIG. 3 is a specific representation of the end view of the horizontal wood member, 1, as it abuts the trapezoid, 3, and the legs 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The drawings are now referred to in more detail. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the horizontal wood member is shown as out along each of its two lower edges to form two indentations which receive and abut the top portion of the legs, 2. The two indentations together form a dovetail. Each indentation is made by a cut on the horizontal member parallel to its top and to a depth from the edge corresponding to the narrowest width of the leg and at an angle of about 75 to 78 depending on the dimensions of the horizontal wood member. This angle can vary slightly but a variation of more than a couple of degrees will detract from the strength of the sawhorse. The horizontal wood member can be cut to any given length depending upon the distance desired to be spanned. Normally the wood member will not be any longer than 48 inches nor shorter than about 17 inches. For ordinary construction needs a distance of about 42 inches is preferred.

The horizontal wood member can be made from any type of wood that has adequate strength. Wood such as oak, redwood, fir, white pine or hemlock would be acceptable.

The horizontal wood member can be almost any size. Usuallyitwillbe2 4,2 6,4 4,onupto4X6 inches. It is recognized that this ordinary framing lumber is not of the'same size in inches as its description would indicate and for purposes of this application the exact width and heights of the various pieces of wood will be used.

The leg members willeach be cut at the same angle top and bottom so as to give a leg that sits at an angle to the floor of about 79 or 80 in a side elevation and an angle of about 75 to 78 in an end elevation. The converging legs are positioned, assuming the sawhorse is 26 inches high, about 16 inches apart measured from their outer edge in the end elevation at the point of contact with the floor. Legs can be of any height depending upon the desired height of the sawhorse. Variation in height of the sawhorse will change the span between the legs at the point of contact with the floor. The height conveniently will be between 20 and 30 inches and for ordinary construction use 26 inches is most desirable.

The wood used for the legs will be construction grade or better lumber between 1 X 4 and 2 X 6.

Each pair of legs is joined together by at least one trapezoid. It is desirous that two trapezoids be used for each pair of legs since it adds substantial strength to the sawhorse. However, it is possible to get by with just one trapezoid. As shown in FIG. 2 the trapezoid is cut and either nailed or screwed to the legs and positioned sufficiently below the top of each leg so that the horizontal wood member, 1, barely abuts the top of the trapezoid. Depending upon the size of the horizontal wood member and the legs the top of the trapezoid will vary from 3 inches to 7 13/ 16 inches.

The trapezoid can be made of almost any material but preferably is made from three-fourths inch plywood.

A separate wood member not shown on the diagrams can be nailed or screwed to the bottom edge of each trapezoid on each pair of legs so that a shelf is formed. This is an added convenience for the purpose of putting tools, nails, etc., while work is progressing. However, it must be recognized that if such a board is applied the sawhorse will not have the same ease of disassembly. In this regard it must be recognized that the present invention is not nailed or screwed together or in any way permanently affixed to the horizontal wood member. This EXAMPLE 1 A piece of 2 X 4 fir (horizontal wood member) which measures l r: X 3 k inches is sawed to a length of approximately 42 inches and then cut along each of its lower edges as shown in FIG. 3, at an angle of 76 and at an indentation of three-fourths inch. Pine lumber of l X 4 is then cut in a manner so that when joined to the horizontal wood member and viewed from a side elevation is at an angle of 79 with the floor. Viewed from an end elevation the leg is at an angle of 76 with the floor. A trapezoid 3 /s inches at the top by 7 h inches at the bottom and at a length between the top and bottom of 7 A inches is positioned about three-fourths inch from the top of the leg, and six screws join the trapezoid to the legs. A second trapezoid is made in a like manner and screwed to the other side of the pair of legs. The same procedure is followed with a separate pair of legs and two additional trapezoids. After completion the horizontal wood member slides easily over the cavity formed by the top portion of each leg of the two pair of legs and thereby forms the sawhorse. This sawhorse is stable and supports a substantial weight while at the same time is easily disassembled by merely sliding the horizontaL wood member from each of the pair of legs.

EXAMPLE 2 Using 4 X 4 fir lumber for the horizontal wood member it is cut to a length of about 42 inches. A cut is made as shown in FIG. 3. The indentation is made 2 inches from the top of the horizontal wood member and at an angle of 75 W A pair of legs are cut in a like manner as in Example 1 but in this instance the legs when joined to the horizontal wood member and viewed from a side elevation is at an angle of 79 with the floor and at an end elevation 75 W with the floor. The trapezoid is 4 5/16 inches at the top. This trapezoid is positioned to the two legs at about 2 inches from the top of each leg and six screws join the trapezoid to the legs. Another trapezoid is positioned in like manner on the other side of the pair of legs. The same procedure is followed with a second pair of legs. The horizontal wood member is then easily slidably over both pair of legs. This sawhorse is stable and supports a substantial weight while at the same time is easily disassembled by merely sliding the horizontal wood member from each pair of legs.

EXAMPLE 3 Using 2 X 6 fir for the elongated horizontal wood member, it cut to a length of 42 inches. A cut is made along each lower edge to a depth of three-fourths inch and at an angle of 78. The same procedure is followed with respect to the legs as in previous examples. How ever in this instance 1 X 6 lumber is used for the legs. The legs are cut so as to make in a side elevation an 80 angle with the floor and in an end elevation at an angle of 78. In this instance the trapezoid is cut 5 13/16 inches at the top. The trapezoid is positioned threefourths inch from the top of the legs and is affixed to the legs with six screws. The same procedure is followed with a second trapezoid. With a second pair of legs two additional trapezoids are put on them in the same manner. The horizontal wood member is then easily slidable across the top of both pairs of legs and forms a sturdy sawhorse.

I claim:

1. A readily assembled sawhorse capable of being easily disassembled for storage comprising an elongated horizontal wood member and at least two pairs of legs, each leg in a pair, convergingly related to each other and joined together by at least one trapezoid, said trapezoid being positioned a distance below the top of each leg so that the top edge of the trapezoid abuts the bottom edge of said horizontal wood member after the sawhorse is assembled, the upper portion of each pair of legs together with the upper edge of the trapezoid forming a space to slidably receive the bottom portion of said horizontal wood member, the bottom portion of said horizontal wood member being shaped as a dovetail, and having a cavity on each side which receives the upper portion of each pair of legs, at least one side of each cavity being parallel to the upper edge of the horizontal wood member.

2. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein each pair of legs is joined by two oppositely facing trapezoids.

3. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of said horizontal wood member and the upper portion of said legs are permanently joined.

4. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the upper edge of the trapezoid joining each pair of legs is about 0.75 inch below the top of each leg. I

5. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the inner angle of the legs shown in a side view is about 79 at the point of contact with the floor and is about 101 at the point of contact with said horizontal member.

6. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the inner angle of the legs shown in an end view is about 76 at the point of contact with the floor.

7. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the upper edge of the trapezoid joining each pair of legs is about 1.5 inches below the top of each leg. 

1. A readily assembled sawhorse capable of being easily disassembled for storage comprising an elongated horizontal wood member and at least two pairs of legs, each leg in a pair, convergingly related to each other and joined together by at least one trapezoid, said trapezoid being positioned a distance below the top of each leg so that the top edge of the trapezoid abuts the bottom edge of said horizontal wood member after the sawhorse is assembled, the upper portion of each pair of legs together with the upper edge of the trapezoid forming a space to slidably receive the bottom portion of said horizontal wood member, the bottom portion of said horizontal wood member being shaped as a dovetail, and having a cavity on each side which receives the upper portion of each pair of legs, at least one side of each cavity being parallel to the upper edge of the horizontal wood member.
 2. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein each pair of legs is joined by two oppositely facing trapezoids.
 3. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of said horizontal wood member and the upper portion of said legs are permanently joined.
 4. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the upper edge of the trapezoid joining each pair of legs is about 0.75 inch below the top of each leg.
 5. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the inner angle of the legs shown in A side view is about 79* at the point of contact with the floor and is about 101* at the point of contact with said horizontal member.
 6. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the inner angle of the legs shown in an end view is about 76* at the point of contact with the floor.
 7. A sawhorse according to claim 1 wherein the upper edge of the trapezoid joining each pair of legs is about 1.5 inches below the top of each leg. 